a government working for the people would never let the economy drop into the pathetic state that is in. Maybe if we werent trilliopns in debt this wouldnt be an issue. Heck when my parents went through college they could pay their way ooff of income from summer jobs. Nowadays education has gotten so far out of hand that tuition is through the roof along with interest rates. And why would you not go to college? Does being lower-middle class with some blue collar job actually appeal to some people?
I think we can agree to disagree on things. I'll respond to this, you have the last word, and for crying out loud, someone make Zero something AMAZING to eat...poor dude only has one good hand, I hear.
I'd hate for him to be stuck with nothing but a jar of Mayo when he runs out of hotdogs and rice.
Yes, the gubberment's excess debt is a time-bomb, and someday China may foreclose on the whole nation in a single go.
Some schools, some job you still can take a summer's wages and pay for a semester. It's going to be in-state public universities and it's going to be Hard Work, but that can be done. If you work harder still in more risky jobs you might could do two semesters, but would still need a part time job during the year to cover ongoing expenses like food.
In college I had a friend that had worked at a Toyota factory putting on wheels for 4 years straight, saving every dime and living with his family. He was paying for college out of his own earnings, he knew the value of his work, and he never made less than a "B" despite working 25 hours a week on a 16-18 hour course load...because he knew exactly how many lug nuts it would take to re-take a class. He was one of the happiest people I knew at school, and that was because he had appreciation for the opportunity. That and he had a pretty good break dance crew. Seriously, it was like something from one of those silly movies...I once went with them to watch them have a break dance competition at some club against another crew. I kept thinking "THIS IF FOR REAL?"
Tuition is RIDICULOUS. We 100% agree with this. I blame the GI bill. After WWII all kinds of farm hands and factory joes were getting educations, and it continued to mushroom from there with each conflict. Yes, the education made this country greater, but it also made the schools greedier. When education started becoming a commodity fighting for your dollar, it became a downward spiral with an exponentially growing price tag.
It used to be, however, that only a very few would take out loans for education. It just wasn't heard of. Lending became more insidious and more prevalent over the past 2 or 3 generations, as did our sense of "entitlement at any APR."
Some choose not to go to college because they don't think they will be able to repay the loans. (Anyone with a gen ed or art degree working retail/food service?) Some don't go because they have job opportunities that they can't afford to pass up at the time. (and sometimes that pans out, and sometimes they're in a dead end wage spiral) Some wait until they are certain what they want and have the passion to get a job in that field.
Personally, I started college to get out of my parents house. I returned to college because I needed to improve my earnings potential or accept higher risk jobs at that time. I went straight into a master's program after that because I felt it was a good opportunity, and because I felt I had something to prove.
I worked hard, have no debt at this time, a serious degree, and yet...
I am currently working on getting my state's teaching certification. In the meantime, I'm making the same kind of money I made working in a cubical by installing tile, hanging drywall, painting, working as an electrician's assistant, and taking off whenever I need to. I've got freedom of flexibility, I've got the same average weekly income (some weeks I make more other weeks I work less), and I've got less pressure with more sense of accomplishment. I know many people in the trades that DO enjoy their work, and I DO enjoy the work, too. I will go back to leaning on my education, though. It has a longer-term appeal for me and I am a bigger picture thinker. You see, the reason that I am getting my teaching credentials is so that I can be That Guy. The Guy that said something to someone. The Guy that took the time. The Guy that listened. The Guy that cared. The Guy that made a difference. I know I can't be That Guy for everyone, but I know that I can reach more in Education. I want to teach public school, middle school math. With my highfalootin masters degree, I can do many a thing for a lot more money. I see it, however, as a chance to voluntarily have my hands bound as to how I can serve, and my mouth gagged about what I can say, but still get to minister to children. It's a lot like the people that go to China or North Korea to do mission work under the guise of teaching English or whatever. I'm going to have to be similarly careful, too.
But yes, there are lots of Brilliant auto mechanics, electricians, concrete form carpenters (I knew one with an IQ in the top 1%), lawnmower-jockeys, and general laborers that are content and not drowning in student loan debt.
The trick in the end is not to base happiness on standard of living. Find work you enjoy, figure out how to survive on that, and aim for content instead of trying to buy Happiness. Bought happiness has planned obsolescence and a mid year model change every time.
Your turn. I've said all I will.
